We will be fundraising next week in our Partnership Challenge, so there won’t be an official Friday Feedback. I expect some listeners will wonder what we mean by saying “92 is the new 96.” We now have two different signal for Classical HQR, 92.7 and 96.7. And we’d like your input. More on that in a moment. But first, the story of a pledge made good -- 22 years later.

Jim Nelson grew up in south Louisiana and cut his teeth listening and playing songs from AM radio. He played a lot of "Swamp Pop" – everything from The Grass Roots to John Fred and the Playboys. His playing is also heavily influenced by the New Orleans “piano professors” and he plants his feet firmly in both pop and blues. Jim’s other big influence is Ray Charles and he regularly includes a song or two from Ray in his shows. Jim will be joined on stage by two friends who are also stand out talents on their own, Lee Venters on Drums and Matt Pirruccello on bass.

It hasn't been 11 full months since the Avett Brothers relaeased The Carpenter, the North Carolina band's most recent collection of bluegrass-inflected folk-rock. Given the length touring cycle that each major release generally spawns, fans had no reason to expect new music this year.

Michael Johnathon, accomplished host of North Carolina's own Woodsongs old-timey music radio program, visited WHQR for a Soup to Nuts Live performance in the MC Erny Gallery. He charmed the audience with his humor, wit, and skillful guitar and banjo playing. Listen to two excerpts from the performance:

Demonstrating his ability for humor, Johnathon laments the effect of the gas crisis on cars:

Nathan Storey is a folk/rock singer and songwriter from Raleigh, NC who has been a performer and songwriter for over a decade. While performing, touring and involving himself in numerous projects during this time, Nathan has developed a sound where “he puts lush emotion and sincerity into each note making any listener sit up and take notice…his melodies and chord changes become hook laden delights,” as described by WHQR's John Fonvielle in The Beat Magazine.

A true Wilmington native and local favorite, Brent Stimmel was born in Wilmington and spent much of his younger years in Raleigh. During his time at UNCW, Brent honed his voice and started performing at open mic nights around Wilmington. He became a Sunday monring staple at The Dixie Grill, amassing a loyal following that supports him some 10 years later.